Dorothy, of Merrington, m. 23 Jun 1655, Richard Thursby, of Brafferton, in the parish of Great Aycliffe, co. Durham, 4½ miles from Darlington, as recorded both in the Kirk Merrington and St. Nicholas Parish Church Registers, Durham. Witnesses mentioned in the St. Nicholas Register are Robert and Raiph Tatum, and Tho. Forcer. In accordance with the custom during the Commonwealth, the marriage actually took place in the Market Place, before the Market Cross, and in the presence of a magistrate, not at the Church of Kirk Merrington, where the entry would be made only by request. This marriage, on 23 Jun 1655, has since been found in the Register of Aycliffe, the next Parish to Kirk Merrington, by Mr. H. M. Wood, writing 21 Oct 1923. [Curtis]